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DENNIS TAKACS/For the Standard-Speaker
Hazleton's Mario Oberto claimed his first career win at Mahoning Valley Speedway last weekend in the Micro Stock Racing Series feature.

LEHIGHTON - The Micro Stock Racing Series final point race of the season was held at Lehighton's Mahoning Valley Speedway last Saturday evening, and in a thrilling wire-to-wire run, Hazleton's Mario Oberto claimed his first career victory.

Coming into the race, the point standings were tied between Bob Wagner and Roger Snyder. Wagner, who hails from Rockaway, NJ, finished fifth which was enough to secure the title as Snyder was two spots back at the checkers.

In the 20-lap race Oberto started from the pole and wasted little time in taking the early lead. Hot on his trail was Wagner, Oberto's car owner.

Drafting is the technique best used by the Micro Stocks when racing at Mahoning and Wagner was doing just that, using Oberto's rear bumper to carry him around the big quarter mile in what he hoped would be the best route needed to get the championship.

Not only were the front two running in that formation, but likewise with most of the pack including teammates Snyder and Wayne Krenn, who were in hot pursuit of the leaders.

Tight pack racing is also the norm for these cars at Mahoning, and on lap 14 Krenn, while running third suddenly got nudged and went into a spin on the back straight. Snyder had nowhere to go and was innocently collected in the incident.

On the restart Oberto was still at the helm but Alex Greenzweig got underneath Wagner and took second. Greenzweig then gave Oberto all he could handle the rest of the way with no daylight between them.

Not about to let victory slip away, Oberto kept his car planted firmly on the bottom lane of the track and drove on to the memorable triumph.

He made it a prefect night by also winning his heat race.

Bill Darling, who was third, also annexed victory in preliminary action.

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